So those Yellowbirds records were pretty good, and people started asking me to produce their records. I worked on a ton of albums; playing, producing, engineering, collaborating in many different ways (sometimes with famous people).

I started to hear what I sound like, so I became Sam Cohen and made my latest record, Cool It. It's mostly just me alone in a room, playing guitars, drums, bass, synths, singing, recording in both haphazard and elaborate methods. A few songs have my beloved Yellowbirds bandmates (Josh Kaufman, Annie Nero, and Brian Kantor).

Cool It is melodic, lightly psychedelic guitar pop that has a lot of unassuming charm. It's a grower. You can stream "The Garden" from Cool It below.

Sam's only scheduled date at the moment is here in NYC, he's playing Rough Trade on March 26 with Invisible Familiars and headliners Jack Ladder & the Dreamlanders. Tickets are on sale.

Sam Cohen's Yellowbirds project is coming to an end, but will play a final show happening November 1 at Baby's All Right with Mesiko and Steve Salett (The Poison Tree). Tickets for that show are on sale.

After Yellowbirds call it quits, Sam will be releasing a solo album. Here's what he had to say about it:

In all this time, babies have been born (probably conceived on Yellowbirds tours), life has made all sorts of grand and subtle shifts and, more than ever, various musical projects beckon us all. As a result, I've been working on new music in a new manner, mostly by myself, which has led to a new record called Cool It, which will be released next year by Easy Sound Recording Co. The record marks a shift in process, and in tone, and I feel it's the closest thing yet to the core of what I want to share through music, so it's appropriate that it marks the moment I became Sam Cohen, as it were. I'm extremely excited about the new sounds and songs, the first of which will become available next month!

I hope you'll continue to find my music, and my music always finds you well.

Though Fruit Bats are no more, main member Eric D. Johnson is now pursuing a solo career, which should hopefully fill that Fruit Bats void in our lives. He's releasing his self-titled debut album as EDJ on August 5 via Easy Sound. Here's a bit of what Eric said about the album's collaborators:

I had a bunch of my favorite people come and join me on this. Sam Cohen, Brian Kantor, and Josh Kaufman (all of Yellowbirds and a million other bands) made up the backbone of the band in the early part of the tracking. And then there were appearances by people from all the different chapters of my musical life - Andy Cabic from Vetiver and Tim Rutili from Califone dropped by to add stuff. James Mercer from The Shins sang some gorgeous high harmonies, and Nathan Larson of Shudder to Think (also my sometime film score collaborator) laid down some drone-y guitar vibes. And of course Thom Monahan, my usual studio co-conspirator, was there to make everything come together.

Stream two tracks from the album, along with a teaser video, below. You can also check out a recent Aquarium Drunkard session EDJ did where he covered Joe Jackson and Richard & Linda Thompson here.

EDJ is going on a tour with Delta Spirit soon, and though he's not opening their NYC shows, he'll play his own show here right after the tour ends on September 25 at Mercury Lounge. Tickets for that show go on sale Friday (7/25) at noon.

The band were in great form, going through their many sounds that included haunting folk, psychedelia, dream pop, and shinier/dancier pop, all while being an adept and big-sounding band that had no problem projecting to the back of the big outdoor venue. Vocal harmonies were spot on too. They were doing some complex stuff that came across more last night than on record, and I don't think they hit a wrong note.

You can browse our full NYC show calendar for all of tonight's shows, but here are some highlights...

Daniel Rossen, William Tyler @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
Grizzly Bear/Department of Eagles singer/guitarist Daniel Rossen put out his solo EP Silent Hour/Golden Mile back in 2012, and he's now on his first-ever solo tour which ends tonight in his hometown. Opening is Merge-signed avant-guitarist William Tyler, who has played in Lambchop and Silver Jews.

Hamilton Leithauser @ Joe's Pub (early and late)
Of all the Walkmen's members side projects, frontman Hamilton Leithauser's not surprisingly seems to be the one with the widest appeal. We'll have to wait until June 3 to hear his debut solo album, Black Hours, but this week he'll likely play much of it at his four Joe's Pub shows. The first two (7:30 PM & 9:30 PM) are tonight.

Pharoahe Monch @ SOB's
One half of Organized Konfusion, Pharoahe Monch releases his fourth solo album PTSD today and celebrates at SOB's. If you haven't listened to the album yet, you can do so by streaming it below.

Spirit Caravan, Pilgrim, Bezoar, Polygamyst @ Saint Vitus
Spirit Caravan is one of Scott "Wino" Weinrich's many bands, who are currently reunited and back on the road with Providence doomsters Pilgrim. Tonight they play Saint Vitus, the Brooklyn bar that partially takes its name from another Wino band, Saint Vitus.

Lonnie Holley, Arto Lindsay, Georgia @ Baby's All Right
Outsider artist Lonnie Holley has made fans out of (and since collaborated with) Deerhunter's Bradford Cox and Black Lips' Cole Alexander. Tonight he returns to NYC for a show with no wave legend and experimental composer Arto Lindsay (of DNA and others), which should make for an excellent night. Lonnie will be joined by opener Georgia during his set, and maybe Arto will hop on stage too?

Kadavar, Sons of Huns @ Mercury Lounge
Germany's Kadavar throw back to the early days of hard rock/metal (think Sabbath, Blue Cheer, etc), and though reviving that stuff is more and more common these days, Kadavar do it well. Tonight's the second of two NYC shows on their current North American tour.

Juana Molina, Xenia Rubinos @ LPR
Argentine singer/songwriter Juana Molina is currently touring the US in support of her terrific 2013 Spanish-language folktronica LP Wed 21. Opening tonight is the NYC-based Xenia Rubinos, who also sings some (but not all) of her music in Spanish (she is of Puerto Rican and Cuban descent).

Martin Bisi, Black Valleys, Larkin Grimm, Parlour Walls @ Glasslands
Sonic Youth/Swans/etc producer Martin Bisi releases his new solo album, Ex Nihilo, today and it's as weird as you'd expect from him. He celebrates with this release show that includes a great bill of friends like White Hills side project Black Valleys (get it?), Larkin Grimm, and Eula side project Parlour Walls.

Yellowbirds, Landlady, Lone Wolf @ Shea Stadium
Prolific musician Adam Schatz is releasing a new album with his main project, Landlady, on July 15 via Hometapes. He recently released the album's newest single, "The Globe," which you can stream below. Tonight's show is part of his ongoing April residency at Shea.

Taking Back Sunday, The Used, Tonight Alive, Sleepwave @ Best Buy Theater
Taking Back Sunday have been back with the lineup who made Tell All Your Friends for a few years now, and just released their second album since reuniting (and third overall by this lineup). The new stuff may lack the fire that made TAYF so great, but at least tonight's another chance to see the old favorites by the lineup who recorded them. This is their first of three sold out shows at Best Buy Theater on this tour.

To celebrate the 1980-1990 period of Bob Dylan's career, ATO Records will release Bob Dylan in the 80s: Vol. 1 on March 25. The tribute compilation was put together by producers Jesse Lauter (Elvis Perkins, The Low Anthem) and Sean O'Brien (Dawes, PAPA), and features covers by Built to Spill, Deer Tick, The Hold Steady's Craig Finn, Gene Ween & Slash, Glen Hansard, Dawn Landes & Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, Blitzen Trapper, Yellowbirds, Ivan & Alyosha, Reggie Watts, Elvis Perkins, Lucius and more. Listen to Built to Spill's take on "Jokerman" from the compilation, with the full tracklist, below.

The new compilation will be celebrated with a record release show in NYC the day before its release at Music Hall of Williamsburg (3/24). The show will feature Dylan's music performed by some of the artists on the album, including John & Ian of Deer Tick, Elvis Perkins, Langhorne Slim, Dawn Landes, Yellowbirds, Hannah Cohen and members of Tea Leaf Green. The lineup also includes Spirit Family Reunion (who are not on the album) and "special guests." Tickets for the show go on sale Friday (2/28) at noon.

Stream Built to Spill's "Jokerman" cover with the album tracklist, below...

Love it or loathe it, New Year's Eve is coming. Here are some of this year's NYC concert options, of which there are many.

One of the biggest shows of the night is Coldplay and Jay-Z at Barclays Center. If you've seen pictures of Coldplay's tour this year, you know they have this bluetooth controlled, light-up wristbands that (no matter how you feel about their music) makes for a spectacular interactive experience. And certainly Jay-Z will throw a good party at his own house.

Pretty Lights is also doing two sold nights at Roseland Ballroom (12/30-31). Another dance option that you might want to avoid is Afrojack is playing two nights on Pier 94 (12/30-31), but it's worth mentioning that if you get there early on night 1, you can catch opening sets by Diplo and Rusko. Night 2 (aka NYE) is sold out but night 1 is still on sale.

Brooklyn dance party The Bunker is throwing an event at the 70 N 6 St loft (above Public Assembly) with John Roberts, Mike Parker, Bryan Kasenic, and Mike Servito. Tickets for that party are on sale now.

Downstairs at the actual Public Assembly, Gaze 4 Daze is throwing two queer parties. Room 1 has DJ sets by Rizzla, Sebastian, and D'Hana, along with Emcee Ryann Supamakenzi and host Cherlyn. In room 2, they've got MIchael Magnan, Amber Valentine, Telfar, Mursi Layne, host Helen Harris, and live performances by House of Ladosha, Cakes Da Killa, and Abdu Ali. $10 at the door gets you into both parties.

Brooklyn warehouse party group Rubulad is presenting "Party-Go-Round" in three separate secret Bushwick locations near the Jefferson L stop. There will be live music by Friend Roulette, Not Waving but Drowning, Viva, and more; dance parties with music by DJ Shakey, Ol' Stark, DJ Mojo, $mall ¢hange and more; a puppet show, a midnight champagne toast, and more. Admission is $20, the events start at 9 PM, and there will be a party bus to navigate between the three locations.

Matthew Dear and Superpitcher are at Le Bain (tix); Ian Pooley, Pat Mahoney and more at Cameo; Onra, Nick Catchdubs, and Samo Sound Boy are at Williamsburg's Villian (tickets).

Chris Keating of Yeasayer is DJing a BangOn!NYC-presented party at a secret warehouse location in Williamsburg near the Montrose L stop with Felix Cartal, Chordashian, Alex English, Sean Glass, and many others. There will also be live music by Carousel, Suntalk, and more TBA, art installations, an inflatable obstacle course, food trucks, and more. Tickets (more info at that link) are on sale and RSVP is open. Location will be revealed with the purchase of tickets or an RSVP.

For the indie rock inclined, you could go see Titus Andronicus at Glasslands which is a pretty small venue for them these days. While So So Glos were originally on the bill for this, they have since dropped off. Dapwell, formerly of Das Racist, is your MC for the evening and tickets are still available.

Right next door at 285 Kent, Florida's (awesomely) mopey Merchandise will visit, plus Blanche Blanche Blanche, Tonstartssbandht and "speciial guests" (note the two ii's is "speciial") will surely be a wild night. Dive in, tickets ($20) are on sale now.

After that, DJ Rashad, DJ Manny, Sasha Go Hard, and others will play an afterparty at 285 Kent (tickets).

Psychic Ills and Herb Craft are playing Saint Vitus. Tickets for that show are on sale.

Also happening in Williamsburg, They Might be Giants play a sold-out show at Music Hall of Williamsburg (one of three shows there that week; Reverend Vince Anderson and His Love Choir will be at Union Pool (free); and at Knitting Factory it's a night of cabaret hosted by the great Murray Hill (tix).

Swimming Cities and Gowanus Ballroom (55 9th St) are presenting The First Party Ever: Primal Reset for the Year Zero with dance parties by Barney Iller, DJ Shakey, and DJ Tinseltown; live music at midnight by Stumblebum Brass Band; an open bar from 11:30-12:30; visuals; "Serret's patented coal fire hot tub time machine"; "Live birth of the antichrist, according to Doctor Adventure"; and more. $15 tickets are on sale now (or $20 at the door, cash only) and all proceeds go to recovery at Serret Metal Works and the "BOATEL" art hotel project in Far Rockaway that were damaged during Hurricane Sandy.

The Felice Brothers also play Maxwell's (12/30) a day earlier (sold out), and on New Year's Eve, the Hoboken venue will host "Maxwell's Rockin' & Rollin' Ass Kickin' New Year's Eve Dance Party feat. The Two Giants: Todd-O-Phonic Todd & Mono-O-Phonic Matt Porter." They get their name from being big San Francisco Giants fans, and they'll be spinning "some of the greatest soul, r'n'b, garage, rock'n'rol etc" all night. Admission is totally free, no cover.

After that, Capitol Theatre will host Steve Miller Band on 12/30 (tickets) and funky METERS with Dumpstaphunk on NYE (tickets).

For some old school punk, Manitoba (the project of Dictators frontman Dick Manitoba) and Sylvain Sylvain (of New York Dolls) will play Bowery Electric with The A-Bones and Daddy Long Legs. Tickets for that show are on sale.

As mentioned, Doveman (aka Thomas Bartlett) is doing his final Burgundy Stains Session of 2012 at Le Poisson Rouge on December 13. Since we last spoke, the guests for the show have been revealed: Sandra Bernhard, Yellowbirds, Hannah Cohen, The Perennials, Craig Finn (of The Hold Steady), and Joey Arias. Tickets for that show are still available.

Craig Finn, who recently told us his favorite albums of 2012, is an especially interesting addition to the show, as most collaborators usually have a known connection to Thomas, but this is the first time The Hold Steady and Doveman getting together. As mentioned, you can also catch The Hold Steady playing Wellmont Theatre on New Year's Eve with Lucero and comedian Kurt Braunohler. Tickets for that show are still available.

Joey Arias and Doveman are also teaming up later this month for an End of the World show at Joe's Pub (12/21) with special guests Narcissister, Cornelius Loy (theramin), and the Pixie Harlots, but unfortunately that show is sold out.

Hannah Cohen, who will guest at the LPR show, released her most recent album, Child Bride, this past April via Bella Union. The album featured production by Doveman and some appearances from Sam Amidon and Rob Moose as well. The video for the title track is below. Hannah and Doveman have also already began work on her next record, and she'll be performing some new songs at the show.

Jerry Garcia, who died in 1995, would have been 70 years old today (8/1) and, as you might imagine, there are some celebrations happening all over the country. Probably the world.

Here in NYC, you can head to Beekman Beer Garden tonight (8/1) to catch 7 Walkers (featuring Bill Kreutzmann of the Grateful Dead, George Porter, Jr. of the Meters, Papa Mali and Matt Hubbard) and Dead satellite musician Steve Kimock with Bernie Worrell, Andy Hess & John Morgan Kimock, and Yarn. Tickets for that show are still available.

Perhaps more interesting to regular readers of this site is a concert happening on Friday (8/3) that will be broadcast on the internet from Bob Weir's TRI Studios. Dubbed "Move Me Brightly: Celebrating Jerry Garcia's 70th Birthday," the tribute features Cass McCombs; Craig Finn and Tad Kubler of The Hold Steady; Chris Tomson of Vampire Weekend; former Grateful Dead/Jerry Garcia Band vocalist Donna Jean Godchaux; Jim Lauderdale; and Sam Cohen and Josh Kaufman of Yellowbirds , plus more usual suspects like Mike Gordon (Phish); Joe Russo (Furthur); Neal Casal (Chris Robinson Brotherhood/Ryan Adams & The Cardinals); Jeff Chimenti (Furthur); Jonathan Wilson; and Harper Sim. Amiable actor Luke Wilson will emcee the show and Bob Weir will be there too.

The tribute concert starts at 6:30 PM on Friday (8/3) and can be streamed via TRI Studios website or Yahoo Music. Bob Weir talks a little (very little) about the tribute in a video which you can watch below.

In other Dead news, on September 1 the band will release Spring 1990, an 18-CD box set featuring six complete shows from the tour of the set's title. If you don't want to plunk down $200 for that, Rhino will release a double-CD compilation culled from those recordings. You can watch a video of Bob Weir talking about that time period in the band's career below as well.

Levon Helm lost his long battle with cancer on April 19, and his life and legacy will be celebrated at a couple of upcoming events, starting with a show by The Band tribute band The The Band Band at BB King's tonight (5/8). A portion of ticket sales will go to The American Cancer Society in honor of Levon Helm.

Brooklyn Bowl is hosting "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down": A Celebration of the Life and Music of Levon Helm on June 4. Marco Benevento, Dave Dreiwitz, Scott Metzger and Joe Russo (of Zeppelin tribute band Bustle in Your Hedgerow and other projects) form the core of the tribute, with special guests including Craig Finn & Tad Kubler (The Hold Steady), members of Guster, members of The Felice Brothers, Nicole Atkins, Phosphorescent, Family Band, Diamond Doves, Kelli Scarr, Yellowbirds, and Tom Hamilton of American Babies. Tickets are $20 and on sale now, and proceeds will go to benefit Helm's "The Barn" studio.

Vetiver welcomed their new album The Errant Charm into the word via Sub Pop yesterday (6/14). They played a NYC show with Luke Rathborne at Mercury Lounge the same night. You can download an MP3 from the LP above, stream the album in full at Spinner, and check out pictures from the show in this post.

Vetiver are now headed to Europe where the album came out on Bella Union. After a tour there they'll be back to play the Bell House with Yellowbirds and Meg Baird. Tickets are still on sale.

The ongoing Submarines/Pepper Rabbit tour hit NYC on 4/26 at Music Hall of Williamsburg with support from Yellowbirds. Pictures from that show are in this post, and there's more of them with all tour dates, below...

The Loom are back from a trip down to SXSW and will play a Brooklyn show tonight (April 9th) at Southpaw with My Cousin The Emperor (their CD release party for The Subway EPs), Sgt Dunbar, The Hobo Banned, and Yellowbirds. The show is one of two local dates on tap for the folkies, as the band will also join Sea of Bees at Sycamore on 4/23. That's two weeks before The Loom head out for a week-long tour with Christopher Paul Stelling that gets as far west as Madison, Wisconsin. All dates are listed below.

Also back from SXSW, Sea of Bees (the musical project of Julie Ann Bee) will be SUPER busy towards the end of April! The Sycamore show is one of eleven shows in eleven days, all at various NYC venues. The NYC tour kicks off at The Living Room on 4/21 followed by appearances at Spike Hill, Sycamore, The Rock Shop (with Smoosh), Pianos, Cake Shop, Mercury Lounge, Joe's Pub, Rockwood Music Hall, Glasslands (with Takka Takka), and Sycamore before a final show back at The Living Room on 5/1. In May and June Sea of Bees will be out on tour withStornoway (one more NYC venue included). All dates are below.

One of the SXSW shows that the Loom played was the Muzzle of Bees Backyard Barbecue. We posted a set of pictures from that. A video is below. One of the SXSW shows that Sea of Bees played, in addition to an NPR "tiny concert" taping, was the "Tree House Diddly" on 3/17 on the roof of Cheers Shot Bar while the sun set. Those pictures are in this post and continue with the NPR video and the other stuff, below...

Yellowbirds "is the moniker for the latest musical exploits of Sam Cohen (guitarist / songwriter / vocalist in the psychedelic collective Apollo Sunshine)." Yellowbirds play Rockwood Music Hall tonight, The Studio at Webster Hall on January 20th, and Cake Shop on February 12th. Check out the songs streaming at MySpace.